It was so good to see Sam and Amanda and Simba (the cat) again! They welcomed me into their Penthouse that has amazing views of Toronto.
Some of the AMAZING views from Sam and Amanda's 52nd story Penthouse - The tallest residential building in Toronto!
After a celebration “Welcome Nutley to Canada” drink...
...we started to discuss the all important Christmas Eve dinner! Sam and Amanda started to list off amazing food options for dinner. We settled on Copacabana Brazilian Steak House! Here they cook the meat on large skewers and then bring it to you at the table. They also serve the yummiest BBQ-ed pineapple EVER!
Me cutting the Yummiest Pineapple EVER for Amanda, The waiter was very impressed and said I was better than some of the staff!
After strolling the streets of Toronto we headed to a Christmas Eve Midnight Mass. Unfortunately we chose the worlds most traditional service which was slow, long and in Latin – we may have snuck out before it finished. You all know how I like my Christmas carols – fast and with a sense of joy and a real reason to celebrate the reason for the season… This was the total opposite! Anyway, as we were leaving early – we were getting death stares from everyone. The church was packed, the aisles were packed, the entrance on each side was packed… as we then walked outside we discover the gates were closed and security had been called in and there were over 150 people locked outside due to fire restrictions they couldn’t let anyone else in. It was crazy! Anyway, we walked home singing our own carols at reasonable speeds. However, we got stuck with the 11th day of Christmas…
So it turns out Santa did get my email and came to Canada! (Caliese was worried)
All of our stockings on Christmas morning... Matt, Oli (Sam and Amanda's flat mate), Sam, Amanda, Simba
We awoke Christmas morning to coldness but no snow – oh well… After Sam made us a yummy traditional breakfast of French Toast, Bacon, REAL Maple Syrup AND Eggnog – with a splash of Bacardi!
A "Traditional" Canadian Breakfast!
The theme of Sam and Amanda’s presents from me and other family was Australia
The "Australian" themed presents...
In a similar way, the theme of my presents from them was all things Canadian!
Me getting into the Canadian spirit!
After the festivities of present giving was over, we decided to rock it out with some Rock Band – Beetles style! It was only a couple of hours between waking up, doing presents and then heading out for our traditional Christmas Day evening meal. We went out to a fancy restaurant so we got dressed up. There were carollers and turkey and everything traditional!
Merry Christmas - See! We DID get dressed up!
Sam's FAVOURITE!!!!
With a full belly, we headed back home for a little more Rock Band before bed. We needed our sleep before braving the Boxing Day sales…
The big shopping centre in the middle of Toronto - LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE!
After spending the morning out and about doing some shopping – I bought some Egg Muffs (really called Ear Muffs but Amanda has a dyslexic moment while writing out shopping list so from this day forward they shall be known as egg muffs…), we were in search of more Traditional Canadian Food… and we found the Ultimate - Traditional Canadian Buffalo Wings and Ribs! YUM! This place had over 100 different flavours of sauce to choose from – amazing. Although the Canadians still do not understand what Spicy Hot is. We have previously been to Blue Smoke in New Farm where they have “3rd Degree Burn” flavour – nothing here is anywhere close to that.
Anyway – back to Canadia. After heading back home and preparing for our early start, we went out to Amanda’s favourite restaurant. But to get there, we needed to ride the Street Car! YAY! I had now successfully utilised Subway, Train, Plane, Cab, and now Street Car! The Queen Mother was the restaurant and amazing food and good wine was had by all. Some other highlights of the nights included watching cars get towed away across the street, taking photos of me with the CN tower coming out of my head, and outlasting everyone in the place.
CN Tower with it's Christmas festive lights popping out of the top of my head.
Sam and Amanda 'fighting' over food... again - I hate it when Mum and Dad fight!
We walked home! Again, it was cold and slightly snowing but it was great fun. It was a great way to end the Toronto chapter of my great adventure – little did I know how awesome the next chapter on the snow was going to be.
This song was the theme to our whole Christmas Celebrations…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kH7ZfdHNow
In Here...
... Life is Beautiful
... The Girls are Beautiful
... Even the Orchestra is Beautiful
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